Still plenty of ‘zing’ in Zingela

EVERGREEN Mzuyanda Zingela won his second senior amateur tournament of 2015 when he captured the Eastern Cape Open at Port Elizabeth GC by five shots from David Konzani.

Rounds of 71 and 72 at “The Hill” gave Uitenhage Golf Club’s 51-year-old Zingela a 143 total, with Humewood’s David Konzani next best on 148, followed by Morgan Phillips and Jock Wellington – still playing great golf at 64 – on 149. It was Konzani’s second straight runner-up finish after his second place at the Border Senior Open.

Last year in September Zingela became the most capped interprovincial player (not counting senior IPTs) in SA golf history when he captained Eastern Province at Westlake. It was his 24th appearance in the IPT which is a record.

Now he’s making waves in senior amateur golf and his Eastern Cape success came after he won the Boland Senior Open at Paarl Golf Club in February.

Growing up in Walmer in Port Elizabeth, Zingela’s father taught him to play golf. He fell in love with the sport and used to practice on a local rugby field. “I also used to sneak onto Walmer golf course in the early hours of the morning to play some shots,” he recalls.

“It was difficult to make a name for yourself as a black golfer in the‘old’ South Africa. The team that I played in after I turned 18 was not allowed to play in tournaments. However, I managed to join Wedgewood in 1986 where I could play competitively.”

In 1987 Zingela first played for the Eastern Province main side and in 2000 and 2001 he represented South Africa. “My biggest achievements include playing for SA and also winning the EP Order of Merit four times and Player of the Year twice. I’ve played with some of the country’s top golfers including Ernie Els when he was still a junior in 1987!”

Zingela is now the head coach for the SA Development Golf Board in EP which coaches youngsters in underprivileged areas.

Bracketed on 150 in joint fifth place at The Hill were Francois le Roux, Christo Reyneke, Ramon Rahme and Duncan Samuel Neill.